PARC welcomes new Board members
Published on 11 February 2021
Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) has welcomed two new Directors to the existing Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd Board to continue the successful operation of the much-loved facility.
Julie Busch and Marlene Elliott have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors for three-year terms, concluding 31 January 2024.
Frankston City Council’s representative on the Peninsula Leisure Board, South Ward Cr Brad Hill, said Ms Busch and Ms Elliott were highly credentialed, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will assist enabling PARC to get back on track following its closure for eight months in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The independent board provides strategic expertise and industry knowledge to ensure PARC continues to run as a successful venture for the community.” Cr Hill said.
PARC Interim Chief Executive Officer, Ian Kerwin, echoed Cr Hill’s sentiments: “As we welcome back members and recover from the impacts of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever that we have the strongest possible Board in place.
“We’re delighted with the appointment of our new independent Directors and I’m looking forward to working with them. Their diverse portfolio of expertise across sport, leisure, fitness, strategy, finance and governance will be invaluable to our facility,” Mr Kerwin said.
Councillors voted at their January 27 meeting to appoint Ms Busch and Ms Elliott, and to conclude Frankston City Council CEO, Mr Phil Cantillon’s interim role as Director and Chair of Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd. Ms Busch will now act as both Chair and Non-Executive Director in her new role.
Councillors also voted to move Council’s Chief Financial Officer, Kim Jaensch, from Interim Director to Non-Executive Director of Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd.
The highly experienced Board now consists of five Non-Executive Directors and a skills based assessment will be conducted annually to ensure that Board composition and skills are ideal to achieve the goals of the organisation and community.
Ms Busch and Ms Elliott join fellow interim Board members, David Fraser and Tom Mollenkopf, who were appointed late last year.
Mr Cantillon said: “PARC is the premier aquatic and fitness facility in the Frankston City and Mornington Peninsula region. No other facility in the region has the breadth of programs and service delivery that PARC provides to its members.”
Mr Kerwin added: “Both PARC and the Pines Forest Aquatic Centre have had an extremely positive impact on the local community as we’ve focused on providing quality experiences and value in all our membership offerings.
“Members have unlimited access to a fully equipped health club, over 210 group exercise classes a week, personalised support, aquatic programs and usage of the aquatic centre and hydrotherapy area, with creche facility available.
“We made the decision to not increase PARC membership prices last year to support our members as they return post-COVID. Our prices have always been comparable to similar large-scale fitness and aquatic facilities within the market,” Mr Kerwin said.
Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd is a subsidiary company wholly owned by Council and charged with the management of Council’s two aquatic facilities, PARC and Pines Forest Aquatic Centre.
For more information about Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre or Peninsula Leisure, visit parcfrankston.com.au or peninsulaleisure.com.au
Peninsula Leisure Board member biographies
Julie Busch
Ms Busch is a highly experienced Board Chair and independent Non-Executive Director across a range of sectors. She was previously Non-Executive Director with Western Leisure managing a wide range of aquatic and recreational facilities on behalf of the City of Wyndham.
Ms Busch was inaugural Board Chair and maintained the Chair role for Dandenong Market Pty Ltd from its inception in 2012 until her resignation in May 2020. Her extensive qualifications include Graduate Australian Institute Company Directors (GAICD) and Graduate Certificate Business.
Marlene Elliott
Ms Elliott has had an extensive career in marketing and communications, strategy, governance and sport. A 15 year career at KPMG includes six years as Director of National Client and Market Insights. In March 2019, she joined VUCA Trusted Advisors as a Consulting Associate Director.
Her current board roles include Commonwealth Games Australia, Triathlon Australia and Workways Australia. Her qualifications also include Graduate Australian Institute Company Directors (GAICD).
David Fraser
Mr Fraser is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor with over 30 years’ commercial and government experience including the role of Audit and Risk Delivery Partner at Oakton Limited and Audit Manager at Ernst & Young. Mr Fraser has been an independent member on Frankston City Council’s Audit and Risk Committee for the past nine years.
Tom Mollenkopf
Mr Mollenkopf is a Senior Associate with consultants, Aither, advising on policy, strategy and governance and an experienced Non-Executive Director. He has a background in law, first in private practice and then as corporate counsel, prior to undertaking a series of executive and CEO roles in the water and environment sector.
He is a Director (President-elect) of the International Water Association and has served on numerous Boards including six years as President and Chairman of Life Saving Victoria. Mr Mollenkopf is qualified BJuris LLB MBA and is a Fellow of the AICD and the Governance Institute.
Kim Jaensch
Ms Jaensch commenced her career in Local Government in 1997 and joined Frankston City Council in 2010 as Manager Financial Services. As a Certified Practicing Accountant and experienced leader, she has played a pivotal role in ensuring Council’s long-term economic sustainability and strong financial position.
Ms Jaensch holds a Master of Business Administration and has also undertaken the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. In April 2020, she was appointed to the position of Chief Financial Officer, forming part of Council’s new Executive.